The purpose of this pilot case study is to investigate the effects of Pilates training on hamstring/quadriceps ratio, trunk strength, shoulder strength, and body composition in adolescent baseball players. Eight adolescent baseball players, 15 years of age, participated in Pilates program (supervised training, 50 min per session for three times a week for 8 weeks) using reformer and Cadillac. The intensity of the program was progressively increased by applying beginner level for 1-2 weeks, intermediate level for 3-6 weeks, and advance level for 7-8 weeks. To verify the effect of the Pilates program on hamstring/quadriceps ratio, trunk strength, shoulder strength and body composition, participants performed bioelectrical impedance analysis and isokinetic testing at pre- and posttraining. After the Pilates training, there were significant increases in body weight (P<0.01), left arm muscle mass (P<0.01), and trunk muscle mass (P<0.01). In addition, there were significant increases in left and right knee flexion peak torque (P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively), right knee extension peak torque (P<0.05), left and right hamstring/quadriceps ratio (both P<0.01), trunk flexion peak torque (P<0.05) and shoulder flexion peak torque (P<0.05) after 8 weeks of training. Therefore, Pilates training increased muscle mass, hamstring/quadriceps ratio, trunk and shoulder strength, suggesting that it may help baseball players do better performance and prevent future injuries in adolescent players.

This study investigated the associations of relative handgrip strength (rHGS) and hypertension. Individual differences in visceral adipose dysfunction (VAD) were evaluated to verify whether rHGS was associated with a reduction in the risk of hypertension, even in individuals with VAD. We included 77,991 participants (50,616 women) from nationwide cohorts in Korea. Participants were categorized into three groups based on sex-specific tertiles of rHGS (Low, Mid, and High). The visceral adiposity index (VAI) was used to evaluate VAD. The multiple logistic regression model was used to assess the risk of hypertension. High rHGS is associated with reduction of hypertension risk in 38 and 26% of men and women, respectively, although rHGS was significantly low in women compared to men. The benefit of rHGS was observed from middle-aged to older participants in both sexes. High rHGS is associated with risk reduction for hypertension in both VAD and non-VAD groups. In the VAD group, compared to Low rHGS, High rHGS was associated with 32 and 22% risk reductions in hypertension in men and women, respectively, and these associations remained significant even when classified according to age, such as in middle-aged and older subgroups. Therefore, the present study suggests that high levels of rHGS are significantly associated with a reduced risk of hypertension even in participants with VAD. Thus, maintaining a higher level of rHGS may be associated with protective benefits against hypertension.

In the present pilot study, we aimed to investigate the effects of the Silverrobics exercise program, which is similar to aerobic dance, on the factors related to glucose metabolism and liver enzymes. Eight elderly women with obesity and impaired fasting glucose participated in the Silverrobics exercise program (60 minutes per session for five times a week for 8 weeks). The program was conducted at 50-60% of the heart rate reserve at 1 to 2 weeks and at 60-80% of the heart rate reserve at 3 to 8 weeks. To verify the effect of this 8-week exercise program on glucose metabolism and liver enzymes, blood analysis at pre- and post-training was performed. After the Silverrobics exercise program, there were significant decreases in the glucose (p<0.05), glycated hemoglobin A1c (p<0.05), 1,5-anhydroglucitol (p<0.05), and insulin levels (p<0.01) and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance score (p<0.05). However, there were no significant effects on the liver enzymes, except for alkaline phosphatase. The alkaline phosphatase level increased after the Silverrobics exercise program (p<0.05). Although the Silverrobics exercise program had no beneficial effects on the liver enzymes, it may play an important role in preventing liver diseases considering the effects on glucose metabolism.

Background/Objectives: The risk of sarcopenic obesity across menopausal transition stages remains unclear. This study investigated the association between menopausal stage and the risk of sarcopenic obesity. Methods: This longitudinal study included 4766 Korean women aged 42–52 years (median follow-up duration, 9.1 years). Menopausal transition was classified by STRAW + 10 stages: premenopause, early transition, late transition, and postmenopause. Sarcopenic obesity was defined as ASM index < 5.7 kg/m² combined with PBF ≥ 35%. ASM and PBF were measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis with an InBody 720 device. Obesity, defined by BMI or waist circumference, was used for the sensitivity analyses. Associations were analyzed using generalized estimating equations. Results: Participants had a mean age and BMI of 42.2 years (SD 3.0) and 22.1 kg/m² (SD 2.9), respectively; 16.1% had high body fat, and 15.6% had low muscle mass. Increased age was associated with higher odds of sarcopenic obesity (OR 1.07, 95% CI: 1.03–1.10). Compared to pre-menopause, late transition (OR 1.49, 95% CI: 1.17–1.89) and post-menopause (OR 1.67, 95% CI: 1.26–2.23) were significantly associated with sarcopenic obesity, independent of confounders. Similar trends were observed using waist circumference-based definitions. No significant associations were identified using BMI-based definitions (BMI ≥ 23 kg/m²), although positive trends were observed. Conclusions: In middle-aged Korean women undergoing natural menopause, sarcopenic obesity increased across menopausal stages, becoming significant from the late transition. These unfavorable changes were more evident when using body composition measures, suggesting that BMI alone may underestimate such changes during menopausal transition.

Objective: Depression is a serious mental disorder which is the leading cause of suicide. This study investigated the association between incident depression and 4-year leisure-time physical activity (PA) levels and/or resistance training (RT).Methods: This community-based Korean cohort included 3,967 participants without depression at baseline. The average PA-time (the total duration of moderate-intensity leisure-time PA) up to 4 years prior to baseline enrollment was calculated to evaluate the cumulative levels of PA. Participants were divided into four groups based on their average PA-time: “Non-PA,” “ <150 min/week,” “150–299 min/week,” and “≥300 min/week.” Furthermore, based on compliance to PA guidelines (≥150 min/week of PA-time) and participation in RT, the participants were categorized into four subgroups: “Low-PA,” “Low-PA+RT,” “High-PA,” and “High-PA+RT.” A multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to assess the 4-year incidence of depression according to leisure-time PA levels and/or regularity of RT.Results: During the mean 3.72 ± 0.69 years of follow-up, 432 participants (10.89%) developed depression. In women, performing 150–299 min/week of moderate-intensity leisure-time PA was associated with a 38% risk reduction for incident depression (HR, 0.62; CI, 0.43–0.89; p < 0.05), whereas more than 300 min/week of that was related to a 44% risk reduction for incident depression (HR, 0.56; CI, 0.35–0.89; p < 0.05) as compared to that in the Non-PA group. However, in men, there was no significant relationship between the amount of leisure-time PA per week and the risk of incident depression. Moreover, in both sexes, RT had no significant effect on depression in either the Low-PA or High-PA group.Conclusions: There was an inverse dose–response association between leisure-time PA levels and incident depression only in women, whereas adding RT to high levels of PA had no significant effect on depression in either sex.

Hypertension is the most common preventable risk factor for the onset of cardiovascular disease and mortality. We aimed to investigate the association between incident hypertension and 4-year leisure-time physical activity (PA) levels and resistance training (RT). In this community-based Korean cohort, 5,075 participants without hypertension were included. To evaluate cumulative PA, the average PA time (the total time of moderate-intensity leisure-time PA) at baseline, 2-year follow-up, and 4-year follow-up were calculated. Based on participation in RT and compliance to PA guidelines (≥150 min/week of PA time), the participants were divided into the following four groups: Low-PA, Low-PA+RT, High-PA, and High-PA+RT. A multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to evaluate the 12-year incidence of hypertension in relation to leisure-time PA levels and RT regularity. During a mean 7.86 ± 4.20-year follow-up, 2,544 participants (1,366 women) were diagnosed with hypertension. Compared with Low-PA, High-PA, and High-PA+RT decreased the risk for hypertension by 30 and 39%, respectively. Participation in RT without compliance to PA guidelines did not affect the incidence of hypertension. The additive effect of RT on hypertension in the High-PA group was further examined. Although sex-based comparisons indicated that men had a significantly longer training period for RT than women, an additional reduction in the risk for hypertension in relation to the addition of RT was observed only in women (35%). PA may confer protective effects against hypertension, whereas the addition of RT to high levels of PA can further reduce the risk for hypertension in women.